Softball

Coach Patti Buchta has taken the Lady Oaks women's softball team to the National Tournament on five occasions, finishing second as NCCAA National Runner-Up in 1997 and fifth in 1998. Coach Buchta's players have received numerous national awards for academic excellence and athletic ability.

News

The Oakland City University softball team, carrying a record of 7-3, moved into the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I Softball national rankings this week, coming in at number five. (NCCAA Top 10)

The top three spots were unchanged from last week, as Bethel College (6-0) remained in the top spot, while Olivet Nazarene University (15-1) and Shorter University (24-4) retained their positions. Hope International University (19-11) moved from ninth to fourth, followed by OCU (7-3). Simpson University (21-11) dropped from fourth to sixth, followed by Nyack College (4-3) at seventh, their first week in the rankings, and Campbellsville University (20-8), who dropped one spot to finish in eighth. Indiana Wesleyan University (12-5) fell from the fifth position into ninth, with Judson University (11-5) moving into the rankings at tenth.

The Lady Oaks will look to improve on their record on Friday, March 29, when they travel to Mayfield, Kentucky, to take on Mid-Continent University. Their double header is scheduled for a 12:00 start.

The Lady Oaks doubled their season total in the wins column today by sweeping a double header against the Lady Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge College, winning 3-2 in game one and 4-0 in the second contest.

Emily Jones pitched a complete game in the opening contest, giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking five batters and striking out three. Felicia Virdin hit a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning, while Emily Sullivan drove in the other run for the Oaks. Sullivan, Virdin and Jones scored for the victorious home team, while Sullivan and Shelbie Leachman each went 2-3 at the plate in the game.

In game two, Emily Sullivan pitched a seven inning shutout, giving up just three hits, walking five batters and striking out nine. After battling through five innings with no score, OCU broke out when Carissa Embry singled, followed by an RBI two out double by Sullivan. The sixth inning saw Aimee Farhar drive in Brittney Benefiel, who had reached on a walk. After Megan Pennington walked, Kerrie Thompson drove in both Farhar and Pennington with a triple. Sullivan sat down the Lady Pioneers in order in the seventh to round out the best day OCU has had this season.

Next up for the Lady Oaks is a double header against Brescia University on Friday, March 30. Game time is set for 3:30 PM CST.

The Lady Oaks continue to struggle as they deal with numerous injuries, losing two games to Kentucky Wesleyan College and dropping to 2-10 on the year.

Game one saw Emily Sullivan take the mound, while Felicia Virdin pitched in relief. The Oaks lost game one 13-2, while game two's result was 9-0 in favor of the visiting Panthers. Emily Jones started the second game.

Mayfield, KY - The Oakland City University Softball team held on to win the regional championship, beating Covenant 5-4 in thrilling fashion. The Lady Oaks held the lead the entire game after scoring one run, but leaving the bases loaded, in the first inning.

Katie Harmon pitched a complete game, giving up ten hits but allowing only four runs, all earned, while striking out two and walking three. Sarah Bonnet hit her first homerun of the season, leading off the fourth inning and Kelsey Davis added to her school record single season homerun tally, blasting her 13th of the season, a solo shot hit to deep left-center field during the fifth inning.

Covenant College ended their season with a record of 13-29 after losing their first 23 games of the year. Each of the starters for the Lady Oaks had a hit to help the Lady Oaks improve to 21-24 and advance to the National Christian College Athletic Association Division 1 Softball National Championship Tournament hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, May 13-15.

The Lady Oaks took their opening regional game against Mid-Continent University by the score of 3-2 on May 4, advancing to play in the regional semifinal game today, May 5, against Covenant College at 10:00 am. If the Lady Oaks can win their 10:00 game, they will play for the regional championship at 2:00. If they lose the first game, they will play at 12:00 to try to steal the last spot in the finals, where they would have to win twice to win the double-elimination tournament and advance to the NCCAA D-I National Tournament, held at Palm Beach Atlantic University.